Foot-guard for railway-frogs



7 (No Model.)

F. B. PIATT.

FOOT GUARD FOR RAILWAY FROGS, &o.

No. 332,106. tented Dee. 8, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PAT NT FFICE.

FREDRICK B. PIATT, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN.

FOOT-GUARD FoR RAlLWAY-FROGS, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,106, dated December8, 1885,

Application filed April 29, 1885. Serial No. 163,847.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDRIOK B. PIATT, of Lansing, county ofIngham,State of Michigan,

have invented a new and useful Improvement drawings, which form a partof this specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a novel safety-guard forrailway-frogs; and it consists in the construction and combination ofdevices hereinafter described and claimed.

I carry out my invention as follows: In the drawings which form a partof this specification, Figures 1 and 2 represent in perspective twoseparate guardplates embodying my invention, said plates beinginverted.Fig. 3 rep resents the same united in inverted position. Fig. 4represents a plan view embodying my said invention. Fig. 5 representsthe same in place with one rail removed. Fig. 6 is averticalcross-section.

A represents a frog; B, the ties. O represents myimproved safety-guard.This guard I prefer to construct of two metallic plates, 0 C said platesmade narrower at one end than at the other. One of these plates isprovided with spikes o o, and with elongated slots 0 0 near each end,and also with a slot, 0*, projecting inwardly from one of its edges. Theother plate is provided with a spike, c and also with bolts 0 0 havingnuts for engaging said bolts through the elongated orifice upon thecorresponding plate, the spike c engaging in theinwardly-projecting slot0 when the two plates are engaged together, as shown in Fig. 3. Theseplates may be made of malleable casting, or of wrought-iron, and thespikes rigidly connected. If cast, the spikes may be cast integral withthe plates; or if made of wrought metal I prefer that they should beheaded down or otherwise engaged with the plates.

The application of the device will be readily understood when engagedtogether, as shown in Fig. 3. The guard may be inverted and the nutsupon the bolts 0 c be loosened. The two plates may be adjusted laterallyto form (No model.)

contact with the rails, when the nuts may be tightened to hold theplates in said lateral adjustment. The guard is then inverted into itsnormal position and the spikes driven into the ties to support the guardat the desired height relative to the rails. In order to lighten theweight of the plates and still make them sufficiently firm,the under onemay be provided,if desired, with a rib, c

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the use of bothtlie plates engaged together, as it may be found that a single platewill till the space between the adjacent rails of the frog, and hence nolateral adj ustment will be needed; but I have found by experience andobservation that much inequality exists in the relative distancesbetween the rails of the frogs,so that it has been found very desirableto have a foot-guard made so as to be laterally adj ustablein a readyand economical manner.

In the use of this device no dr'illing ofboltholes in the rails isrequired. Should the rails of the frog need to be renewed, the guard canbe readily reapplied. The guard is at the same time not only efficientas a safety device, but is also very durable.

It is evident that instead of employing bolts 0 c rivets may besubstituted without departing from the principle of myinvention,as theycan be readily headed down, when the plates are properly adjusted,byinverting the plates and resting the head of the rivet upon the rail, orotherwise.

I have shown and described my invention as applied to railway-frogs; butit is evident that it is equally well adapted for railway guards,switches, and the like wherever two rails are located adjacent to eachother; and I would have it expressly understood that I contemplate itsuse whenever it may be found applicable. I would also have it understoodthat I do not limit myself to any particular way of adjusting the guardlaterally, as Icontemplate accomplishing said lateral adj ustment in anymanner as coming within the scope of my invention.

I have shown the platesCG provided with longitudinal flanges c and 0andwith bent ends 0 and C. Thelongitudinal flanges are adapted to engageunder the outer edge of the head of the rail, to make the guard moreefficient,

ICO

and the more effectually to prevent the foot being caught, asillustrated in Fig. 6. By bending the ends the foot is prevented frombeing caught underneath the guard, as illustrated in Fig. 5; but I donot limit myself to the construction of the plates with the longitudinalflanges and bent ends. These flanges, if employed, will serve to stiffenthe plates, as well as afford additional safety.

What I claim is- 1. A metallic foot-guard for railway-frogs, &c.,provided with fixed spikes, whereby it may be supported above theroad-bed, substantially as described.

2. A metallic foot-guard for railway-frogs, &c., said guard laterallyadjustable and supported horizontally above the road-bed, substantiallyas described.

3. A metallic foot-guard for railway-frogs, &c., consisting of twoplates made laterally adjustable and supported above the road-bed,substantially as described.

4.' A metallic foot-guard for railway-frogs, &c., consisting of twoplates made narrower at one end than at the other, said plates madelaterally adjustable and provided with fixed spikes, whereby they may besupported horizontally above the road-bed, substantially as described.

5. A foot-guard for railway-frogs, 8tc., consisting of two metallicplates made narrower at one end than at the other, one of said platesprovided with spikes, elongated slots near its ends, and a slotprojecting inwardly from one of its edges, the other plate provided witha spike to engage in said inwardly-projecting slot, the said platesadjustably united by bolts or rivets passed through said elongatedslots, substantially as described.

6. Ametallic foot-guard for railway-frogs, &c., supported horizontallyabove the roadbed, said guard consisting of two plateslaterallyadjustable, each of said plates provided with a longitudinalflange, substantially as described.

7. A metallic foot-guard for railway-frogs, 850., said guard constructedof adjustable plates made narrower at one end than at the other andsupported horizontally above-the road-bed, each of said plates bent attheir broader ends, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Isign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

FREDRIOK B. PIATT.

Witnesses:

M. B. ODOGERTY, W. S. RABINEAU.

